Scotland approves HIV prevention drug

Scotland has become the first of the UK nations to approve the provision of PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) by the NHS to prevent HIV.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) today announced that PrEP, the HIV prevention drug, has been deemed a cost-effective treatment to prevent the transmission of HIV and will be made available on the NHS in Scotland.

While the anti-retroviral drug is already licensed for use by people diagnosed with HIV in Scotland, the new ruling means the drug can now by used as a preventative basis by people who do not already have the virus.

The drug is consumed once per day and has been found to reduce the risk of HIV infection by 86 per cent. Each prescription costs £450 per month.

A statement from the SMC read: “Emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil (Truvada) was accepted to help prevent sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection in adults who are at high risk of being infected (‘pre-exposure prophylaxis’ [PrEP]). Emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil given as PrEP is one aspect of an HIV-prevention strategy and should be used in combination with safer sex practices such as using condoms.

“Patient groups highlighted that current prevention methods have not managed to reduce the spread of HIV in Scotland over the last ten years.”

Dr Alan MacDonald, SMC chairman, confirmed: "[Prep] when used together with safer sex practices may help to reduce the spread of HIV, which is an ongoing priority for the Scottish government."

George Valiotis, CEO of HIV Scotland, welcomed the news: “HIV Scotland welcomes this great decision that we have spent years campaigning for as an essential addition to Scotland’s HIV prevention approach. In 2016 HIV Scotland published a PrEP good practice guide, and administered Scotland’s expert group which produced prescribing criteria, cost assessments, and mapped information and training needs of workers and the community.”